Investigation continues after 2 security scares at D.C. university

WASHINGTON — The man who sparked a second lockdown within a 24-hour period at the Catholic University of America was a member of the campus community, police have determined, and officials continue to investigate threats made that triggered the initial lockdown.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined the investigation and campus officials have ordered increased surveillance since a university custodial employee encountered a gunman who made terroristic threats Monday night.

Tuesday night, a D.C. police officer on patrol — part of the heightened surveillance efforts — spotted a young man that resembled the gunman’s description from the night before. The man was interrogated and his car searched before police determined he is a member of the Catholic University community “and had every right to be on campus,” according to a Facebook post from the school’s emergency council.

Possible Suspect Sighting Prompted 2nd Campus Warning

WASHINGTON — Catholic University of America and police officials say a second shelter-in-place order on the campus in 24 hours was prompted by a sighting of a person who resembled a man suspected of making threats the night before.

In an email to the campus community, President John Garvey said that a conversation with the man spotted Tuesday made it clear he “had every right to be on campus.” Garvey says there’s no concern about resuming normal activities Wednesday, but classes started late because schedules may have been upset.

Possible Suspect Sighting Prompted 2nd Campus Warning

WASHINGTON — Catholic University of America and police officials say a second shelter-in-place order on the campus in 24 hours was prompted by a sighting of a person who resembled a man suspected of making threats the night before.

In an email to the campus community, President John Garvey said that a conversation with the man spotted Tuesday made it clear he “had every right to be on campus.” Garvey says there’s no concern about resuming normal activities Wednesday, but classes started late because schedules may have been upset.

Police say man reported with gun at Catholic University still being sought

A man who a Catholic University custodian reported had a gun and claimed to be affiliated with the Islamic State remains at large even after police questioned two people and put the campus in Northeast Washington on lockdown twice in 24 hours.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier said the individuals who were detained early Tuesday and Tuesday night — one of them a student — have been cleared of any connection to the alleged unusual behavior. Classes resumed late Wednesday morning for the approximately 7,000 undergraduates and graduate students.

Catholic University students again told to shelter in place

WASHINGTON (AP) — Catholic University of America students have again been warned to shelter in place and police say they subsequently located a suspicious person.

The initial notice posted on the school's website at 8:26 p.m. Tuesday had said city police and university public safety officers were on campus in response to a possible armed suspect.

Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Officer Sean Hickman says police went to the campus as a precaution. The department later tweeted that police weren't searching for an armed suspect but had located a "suspicious person." Police didn't elaborate.

Late start for classes at Catholic U. after ‘shelter in place’ order lifted

Classes at the Catholic University of America will start a few hours late on Wednesday after a “shelter in place” order was lifted late Tuesday. A report of a suspicious person prompted the alert, the second of its kind on the campus in 24 hours.

According to a note from university President John Garvey, the “shelter in place” alert was issued around 8 p.m. when D.C. police saw a man who resembled a person suspected of making threats on Monday night. After investigating and talking to the man, Garvey’s note states it was determined that he was “someone who had every right to be on campus.”

The “shelter in place” order was lifted around 10 p.m.

In his note, Garvey says D.C. and campus police see no reason for concern about resuming class on Wednesday.

“We feel, though, that the events of this evening have been sufficiently upsetting to the schedules of our students that we ought to have a three-hour delay in beginning classes tomorrow,” he writes.

Report of armed man at Catholic University sets off search

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) – A man armed with a gun forced Catholic University of America to shelter-in-place late Monday night, university officials said.

Around 10:30 p.m., a custodial worker reported that he was approached by a suspect with a weapon. According to police, the suspect demanded to know where the administration building was and the custodian directed him to Leahy Hall.

Catholic University Students Shelter in Place During Search

Catholic University of America warned students to shelter in place for several hours overnight after a report of a man with a weapon on the campus in the nation’s capital, but officials later gave the all-clear.

In an email to the campus community early Tuesday, Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management Thomasine Johnson said a custodial worker reported being approached Monday night by a man with a weapon who demanded the location of the administration building.

Catholic University students shelter in place during search for armed man, nothing found

Catholic University of America warned students to shelter in place for several hours overnight after a report of a man with a weapon on the campus in the nation's capital, but officials later gave the all clear.

In an email to the campus community early Tuesday, Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management Thomasine Johnson said a custodial worker reported being approached Monday night by a man with a weapon who demanded the location of the administration building. D.C. police responded and two buildings were evacuated and searched.

Catholic University campus deemed safe after search

WASHINGTON — The Catholic University campus has been deemed safe after a shelter in place order was issued and two buildings evacuated Monday night and early Tuesday.

The university said in a statement that a custodian in Pangborn Hall was approached by someone with a weapon. Officers from the university’s Department of Public Safety said the custodian told them the man demanded to know the location of the administration building. The custodian directed him to Leahy Hall.